Device for control of urination



Sept. 27, 19490 A. J. WILLIAMS DEVICE FOP. CONTROL OF URINATION 2 Shets-Sheet 1' Filed May 15, 1948 WITNESSES.

A TTOR/VEVJ Sept. 27, 1949. A. J. WILLIAMS DEVICE FOR common or URINATION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 15; 1948 INVENTOR l /Fred J- lA/f/h'a ms WITNESSES:

- ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 27, 1949 UNITED STATS ATENT OFFICE DEVICE FOR CONTROL OF URINATION Alfred J. Williams, Cleveland, Ohio Application May 15, 1948, Serial No. 27,221

'7 Claims. 1

This invention relates to controls for urination, especially to controls or aids for females who have little or no control of the discharge from the bladder.

Many women, either through childbirth or other causes, lose control of the discharge from the bladder, which condition is particularly prevalent in elderly women. These women may have a partial paralysis condition or for other causes they are unable to control the sphinctor muscle which in a circular muscle associated with the urethra for control of the bladder. Hence many elderly women, and sometimes young women, are faced with a problem of disposal of bladder discharge which occurs substantially constantly in small quantities or drops. One means for disposal of such discharge is to wear padding which will absorb the same. However, such padding is bulky and is otherwise objectionable to the wearer. Mechanical devices may also have been proposed for use in this connection but the use of such devices has not been satisfactory since they have been painful to the wearer or have not functioned effectively.

The general object of the present invention is to avoid the foregoing and other disadvantages of devices of the class described and to provide a novel, effective device for the control of urination.

Another object of the invention is to provide a convenient device of the class described which can easily be positioned and can readily be re moved from operative position and be sterilized.

A further object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive, comfortable device for control of urination in females, and which device can be positively retained in position.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will be made more apparent as th specification proceeds.

Attention is directed to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevation, partially in section, of a device embodying the principles of the invention wherein the device is shown in its operative position;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the device of Fig. 1 taken on line 2-2 thereof;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the device of the invention with its associated suspension means;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical section of the device of Fig. 1 with a retaining ring being indicated thereon; and

Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 55 of Fig. 4.

Reference is now made to the details of the structure shown in the drawings and a control device generally indicated by the numeral I6 is shown positioned in operative manner in the vagina II of the figure l2 shown. The control device H) has an aperture or opening l3 in its upper surface and this opening i3 is provided with a downwardly or inwardly rolled edge surface [4. The opening i3 is adapted to receive the discharge end of the urethra l5, as best shown in Fig. 1 whereby any discharge from the urethra will pass therefrom into the control device Ill. The device 16 primarily comprises a substantially cylindrical hollow body Hi, the inner end of which is of less height or thickness than the outer end of same and an upwardly tapered lower surface I1 is formed on the body I 6 to facilitate its positioning in the vagina H and retention of same therein without interference with other organs of the body.

In order to prevent insertion of the body It further than is required, an end plate I8 is secured to the outer end of the body I6 in any convenient manner and it extends upwardly and downwardly from the body It. As indicated in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the body I6 is smaller in width than the end plate I8, although they may be of the same width, when desired. In order to prevent any sharp edges from cutting into the legs or body of the wearer, the lateral portions of the end plate l8 are inwardly directed or flanged as indicated at I9.

So as to discharge urine received in the body l6, a discharge tube or other conventional device 2! is suitably secured to the end plate l8 and protrudes therefrom. This discharge tube 2|, of course, connects into the interior of the body I6 and a conventional flexible tube 22 may connect to the discharge tube 2| and convey fluid material to a storage container or other receptacle, as desired.

In order to aid in retaining the control device In in position, a suspensory belt is provided to engage with same. This belt includes a waist band 23, and two front support bands 24 that connect to a control member 25 which is engaged with the control device I!) by being positioned between the flanges l9 thereof and which control member engages with further bands 26 which in turn engage with the waist band 23 for exerting a retaining pressure on the control device Ill. The control member or band 25 is shown pro vided with a longitudinally directed slit 21 therein through which the discharge tube 2| extends. Thus, the suspensory band and associated means may move with relation to the control device I0 and thus avoid irritating movement of the control device.

The control device may be formed from any desired material, such as metal, or plastic, that is adapted to withstand sterilization temperatures and the body and end plates of the control device may be welded, soldered, or otherwise secured together. Usually the waist band is formed from conventional elastic material and the control member 25 may be formed from elastic material, leather or other suitable material.

In some instances, it may be desirable to aid in retaining the control device in position in the manner indicated in Fig. 4. In this figure of the drawings, an inflatable ring 31 is shown which is secured to the inner end of the body It. A connector tube 32 connects to this inflatable ring 3i and it extends out through the end plate IE to a valve member 33. The valve member 33 then may be connected to any source of pressure whereby, after the control device of the invention.

is positioned, pressure can be set up within the ring 31 so as to inflate same and aid in retaining the control device in position. The ring 35 can be made from natural rubber or other conventional material that would be adapted for inflation would not be injurious to the body of the wearer.

The end plate is aids in retaining the device in an upright position since the end plate usually would be fairly snugly received between the legs of a woman wearing the device. The opening i3 is elongate and spaced from the end plate to facilitate reception of the end of the urethra therein.

It appears that the urethra readily seats in or on the opening 13 since insertion of the device into the vagina seems to pull back the urethra so as to the draw it into the vagina. The size of the device may be varied for difierent women and one average size is shown in full scale in the drawings.

As afurther modification of the invention, the body 16 might-be formed of reduced diameter adjacent the end plate So that the muscles which control the vagina opening would seat in such recess and retain the device in position. The suspensory belt may or may not be used to retain the control device in position, as required for the individual and the specific device used.

Usually the suspensory belt will permit free activity of a person wearing the device with no discomfort to the wearer. Furthermore, it appears that no leakage of urine around the device 0 would occur due to the tight seat of the urethra in the opening IS. The wearer can easily determine if the device is correctly positioned.

While the device of the invention has been referred to as an aid or control for urination, it may be referred to: as a disposal unit for urine. Any desired type of a device may be secured or connected to the tube 22 for receipt of urine therefrom;

While twocomplete embodiments of the invention have been disclosed herein, it will be appreciated that modification of these particular embodiments of the invention may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A urinary device for females having poor control of bladder discharge, which device comprises a substantially cylindrical hollow body having a longitudinally tapered inner end of reduced height formed by a tapered lower surface thereof, a substantially planar end piece secured to the outer end of said body and extending substantially perpendicularly thereto, said end piece being slightly wider than said body and protruding appreciably above and below said body, a discharge tube secured to said end piece and connecting into said body, the lateral edges of said end piece being curved in toward each other to smooth over such end sections, said body having an opening on its upper surface for receiving the discharge end of the urethra when the device is inserted in the vagina, and means connecting to said discharge tube for receiving urine therefrom.

2. A device as in claim 1 wherein a suspensory is provided for retainin the device in position, said suspensory including a connector member which engages with the lateral edges of said end piece by a slip connection to permit relative movement therebetween, said member having a longitudinally directed slit formed therein for receipt of said discharge tube.

3. A urinary device for females having poor control of bladder discharge, which device comprises a substantially cylindrical hollow body, a substantially planar end piece secured to the outer end of said body and extending substantially perpendicularly thereto, said end piece protruding appreciably above and below said body, and a discharge tube secured to said end piece and connecting into said body, the lateral edges of said end piece being curved in toward each other to smooth over such end sections, said body having an opening on its upper surface for receiving the discharge end of the urethra when the de- Vice is inserted in the vagina.

4. A mechanical aid or control for female urination, which aid comprises a substantially cylindrical hollow body adapted to be inserted into the vagina, an end piece secured to the outer end of said body and extended therefrom at right angles to the longitudinal axis thereof for limiting the insertion of said body intothe vagina, said body having an opening formed in its-upper surface for receipt of the end of the urethra therein, a discharge tube extending out from the outer end ofsaid body, and suspensory means for engaging with said end piece for retaining the aid in position.

5. A mechanical air or control for female urination, which aid comprises a substantially cylindrical hollow body adapted to be inserted into' the vagina, an end piece secured to the outer end of said body and extended therefrom at substantially right angles to the longitudinal axisthereof for limiting the insertion of said body into the vagina, said body having an opening formed in its. upper surface for receipt of the end of the urethra therein, and discharge means connecting to said body.

6. A device as in claim 5 wherein an inflatable tube is secured to the inner end of said body, and a connector tube is connected to said inflatable tube and extends. through said end piece for connection to means for inflating said inflatable tube to aid in retaining the device in position.

'7. A mechanical aid or control for female urination, which aid comprises a substantially cylindrical body adapted to be inserted into the vagina, an endv piece secured to the outer end of said body and extended therefrom at substantiallyright angles to the longitudinal axis thereof, said body having an opening formed in its upper surface for receipt of the endof the urethra therein andhaving a passageway leading from such opening to said end piece, and a discharge device" associated with said end piece and conmeeting to said passageway.

ALFRED J. WILLIAMS.

No references cited. 

